Audio: In Elul, we must especially careful how we judge other people...

In Elul, we must especially careful how we judge other people. Judging Others Fairly: A Vital Mitzva for Elul.

8/24/2012, 9:02 AM

A7 Radio's "Lazer Beams" with Lazer Brody

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These last few weeks before Rosh Hashana are notorious for being weeks of "judgment traps". The best policy is to speak minimally during the entire month of Elul, limiting our speech to prayer, Torah learning, plenty of hitbodedut – especially at kivrei tzaddikim, healthy family relations and the barest necessity for whatever business, trade, or profession that we need to make a living. When we do speak, we should exercise extreme caution to avoid judging others. If we do judge others, we should go out of our way to give them the benefit of the doubt, be lenient, tolerant, and understanding. This is especially important in our judgments of our spouses, children, and parents.

Hashem judges us like we judge others; for that reason, we have to be especially careful about expressing opinions and condemning other people.

Nobody escapes judgment traps. Nathan the Prophet ensnared King David into a judgment trap (see Samuel II, 12: 1-7). Hopefully, having become aware of judgment traps, we won't sign harsh verdicts against ourselves or against our fellow human never ever again. May G-d bless all of us for an inscription in the Book of a long and healthy Life, amen.

Today's show is dedicated to David ben Miriam, our cherished friend David Dome who is battling a difficult health issue. David's exquisite music is also featured today for your listening enjoyment. His album Light is available at the Breslev Israel online store.

Multi-talented author, speaker, composer and spiritual guide, Rabbi Lazer Brody came to Israel from the USA in 1970 after graduating from the University of Maryland’s College of Agriculture. A decorated veteran of an elite IDF Special Forces Unit, he left his mountaintop farm in Samaria in 1982 and began intensive Torah studies that led to his rabbinical ordination in 1992. Rabbi Brody pens the award-winning Lazer Beams weblog http://lazerbrody.typepad.com/ , is the English-language editor of Breslev Israel web magazine http://breslev.co.il/ , and the author of numerous books in Hebrew and English including the highly-acclaimed 'The Trail to Tranquility'. His translation of 'The Garden of Emuna', written by his rabbi and spiritual guide Rav Shalom Arush shlit’a, has become an international best seller. In addition, Rabbi Brody’s original Calming Waters album is an exquisite collection of his soul-healing flute melodies. He hosts the Lazer Beams podcast every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Israel time on Israel National Radio.